When 79-year-old Masterton resident, Anne Clinch first heard she had won the Heart Foundation Lottery’s first prize of a fully-furnished Jennian Homes dream home in Whitianga, she wondered if she was being scammed.

However, once reassured by the Heart Foundation that the three-bedroom home, valued at $650,000 was actually hers, Anne could barely believe her luck.

“It was just the most amazing news,” says Anne, whose three children recently joined her for the exciting house handover in Whitianga.

It was here that Anne and her family discovered there was something extra special about her first prize Jennian home – it is the 50th house built by Jennian Homes for the Heart Foundation Lottery since they teamed up in 2009. During this time, proceeds from Lottery ticket sales have helped support many of the 172,000 Kiwis living with heart disease, while contributing to life-saving heart research and training.

Anne began buying tickets in the Heart Foundation Lottery in 2001, shortly after her husband had heart surgery. To Anne, buying tickets was a way of giving back to the charity that had offered so much during this life-changing event.

“Even if I had never won a prize, I would continue to support the Heart Foundation as it is such a worthy cause and offers so much to people after they’ve had a heart attack,” says Anne.

Anne’s daughter Marilyn Morrison agrees, saying that the information and support offered to people living with heart disease by the Heart Foundation, was very beneficial to the family following their dad’s heart surgery.

“When you walk away from the hospital, you need to know that there is reliable information and support available to you and your family,” says Marilyn.

When Anne’s Lottery win had sunk in following her call from the Heart Foundation, she called Marilyn to let her know the good news.

“Mum asked me to sit down, so I was worried that something bad had happened. Then she told me that she’d won a house. We are all still gobsmacked by it.”

Marilyn says the home was “just beautiful” and much larger than she had expected.

“The house is really spacious, with good quality furnishings. Whitianga itself is just lovely and you feel like you’re on holiday as soon as you arrive.”

The family plans to enjoy some weekends at the house before reluctantly selling it, due to the travelling distance.

Heart Foundation Direct Fundraising Manager, Gail McIntyre, says the Lottery programme is one of the charity’s most significant revenue-generating activities. “As a charity, the Heart Foundation relies on the generosity of the public to continue much of its life-saving work. Often our Lottery supporters are either heart event survivors or know the devastating effects of losing a loved one to heart disease. This means they’ve often experienced first-hand the benefits of the care and support that the Heart Foundation offers,” says Gail.

“We are also very grateful for the partnership we have with Jennian Homes. It is great to celebrate the 50th home they have built and the difference that their support makes to the heart health of New Zealanders.”

The Heart Foundation runs six lotteries per year, each with a first prize of a fully-furnished Jennian home and other prizes including overseas holidays, a new car from Toyota and $10,000 cash.

Tickets ($15 each) for Lottery 108, which features a three-bedroom home in Mapua, Golden Bay, valued at $725,000, are on sale until November 3, 2017. For further information about the Heart Foundation Lottery click here.